Target-throwing trap.



No. 858,026. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

E. w. & A. J. REYNOLDS.

TARGET THROWING TRAP. APPLICATION rum) JUNE 2a,190s.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventors: I Artizurl'Be nolds.

E 1W (5 39 Byfbeir Attor z z gym! 5 No. 858,026. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

E. W. & A. J. REYNOLDS. TARGET THROWING- TRAP.

r 5 2 .5 T om m wmw m; n R L. .W W... a E M6 H mm 3 TE A APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28,1906.

By be1 'A ttorney Witnesses No. 858,026. PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907- E. w. & A. J. REYNOLDS.

TARGET THROWING TRAP.-

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 28,1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEHT 3 Witnesses: Artlzurffieymlds,

' Q By Meir-Attorney;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST W. REYNOLDS, on NEW YORK, N. Y., AND ARTHUR J. REYNoLDs, on N W BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

TARGET-THRQWING TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1907.

Application filed June 28,1906. Serial N0. 323,877.

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ARTHUR J. REY- NoLDs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, and ERNEST W. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements" in Target-Throwing Traps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism generally known as target traps, that are designed for the purpose of throwing a target of any desired form, to be shot at during its flight before landing by a marksman.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a trap wherein the movement in one direction of a lever will reset the throwing arm or similar mechanism, to be engaged by a trip device; while the subsequent movement of the lever in the opposite direction will put the spring or tension device that throws the arm under the proper tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap that is movable on a base mem her and which will be automatically swung on such member by the operation of the main lever, whereby the target is discharged in different directions at diiferent operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the said form of trap wherein an operating lever is swung in one direction to reset the throwing arm, and the subsequent movement of the lever in the opposite direction will put under tension the actuating spring; means whereby the trap will be automatically caused to change its position at successive actuations from the movement of such lever.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved form of carrier for holding the target on the throwing lever, wherein the target will be frictionally engaged under considerably more tension at one side than at the opposite side, and consequently will be put under rotation on its axis as it begins its flight, and thereby caused to have a spinning motion through the air.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a trap throwing target device, in which the carrier is movable on the end of the carrier arm, a tension device tending to retard such movement of the carrier member on the arm, which shall have its tension decreased as the arm is thrown.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of our invention Figure l is a plan view of the trap. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the form shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows in plan view the carrier. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 indicated in Fig. 3. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the carrier and taret in successive positions, showing the operation of the movable parts of the carrier and the spinning of the target upon ejectment. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the base member of the trap shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 10 is an elevation of the base member. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a modified form of trap showing only the swinging mechanism. Figs. 12 and 13 are details of the modification shown in Fig. 11. Fig. lt'illustrates the tension device for the carrier on the arm, showing it in two positions. Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 but enlarged and showing the parts in a third position; and Fig. 16 is an enlarged view showing certain details of the parts shown in Fig. 14.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10, on a suitable base plate 20 is a support or post 21, on which is rotatably mounted a frame member denoted generally by 22, and which is pivoted on the post at 23. A carrier arm 24. is pivoted on the frame at 25, by its intermediate portion adjacent one end. A carrier member denoted generally by C, is pivoted on the arm at 26, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a spring 27 is connected between the carrier and a pin 28 on the arm. This spring is used to allow a swinging of the carrier on the arm, when the arm is arrested at the termination of its throwing movement. At the end 29 of the shorter portion of the throwing arm 24 is pivotally connected one end of a comparatively strong coil spring 30. The other end of this spring is pivoted at 31 to an operating lever 32, that is pivotally mounted at 33 on an extension 34. of the frame 22. The throwing arm 24 is locked in the position shown in Fig. 1, which is its set position, by a suitable form of trip device. In the form illustrated, a plunger 35 is vertically slidable in a post 36 fast on the frame 22, and is recip- Figs. 5, i

rocated by a lever 37 by any suitable means, such as a cord 38 passing around a pulley 39. The plunger is retained normally projecting upward through the post, by a spring 40, connected between the lever 37 and the frame. This pin has its upper end beveled so that when the throwing arm 24 is moved to the position shown, the pin will be depressed, and then rise to engage the arm and prevent its movement. By swinging the lever 32 to extend the spring 30, a tension will be put upon the throwing arm. The lever can be locked with the spring under tension by any suitable means, such as a pawl 18 carried by the lever and engaging notches 41 in a portion 42 of the frame. The spring 30 being put under tension by the lever, upon the trip device being depressed, the throwing arm 24 will swing around, from a position such as shown in Fig. 15, to a position such as indicated in full lines in Fig. 14. When in the latter position, the swinging of the lever 32 will cause the throwing arm 24 to swing back to its set position to engage the trip device 35. And the subse uent movement in the opposite direction of t 1e lever 32 will put the spring 30 under tension, and the lever can then be locked by the pawl 18.

By this construction it will be seen that the whole operation of returning the throwing arm to the set position, and of putting the throwing device under tension is accomplished by the single oscillation of one arm. This leaves the other arm of the operator free to place the targets in the carrier, and which will obviously greatly facilitate the manipulation of the trap and expedite its work.

Means are provided whereby the throwing mechanism with the frame member 22 are automatically swung relatively to the base member 20. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10, a yoke member 45 is pivoted by one end to a post 46 projecting upward from the base. The lever 32 has a short arm 47 to which is pivoted a pawl 48. A ratchet wheel 49 is V ivoted to the lower side of the frame 22 and as its teeth engaged by the pawl 48 whereby the ratchet wheel is intermittently rotated from the swinging of the lever 32. The inner sides of the opposite portions of the yoke 45 have suitable teeth forming rack members; which racks are alternately engaged by a mutilated gear 50 fast to the ratchet wheel 49. This gear has teeth on about one-half of its periphery, so that upon rotation of the gear from the ratchet wheel and arm 32, the teeth will leave one rack bar of the yoke and engage the opposite rack bar. Since the yoke is pivotally mounted on the post 46, the engagement of the gear pivoted on the frame, will cause the rotation of the gear to swing the frame relative to the post and base. When the gear engages one side of the yokemember the frame will be swung in one direction and when the gear engages the other side of the yoke member, it will swing the frame in the opposite direction. Each time the lever 32 is oscillated the pawl will engage the ratchet wheel to advance it and the gear a fraction of a revolution. By this means the frame can be swung different distances between different operations so that the marksman cannot presume the amount of change in the angular movement of the trap. This swinging adjustment can also be varied by making the teeth 49 on the ratchet wheel of different length, whereby for the same swing of the arm 32 different movements will be communicated to the swinging frame.

Another form of means for swingin the frame on the base member is shown inTigs. 11, 12 and 13, wherein a frame member is pivoted on a suitable base at 56, and carries an operating arm 57 pivoted at 58, which arm operates similar to the arm 32, by mechanism not shown. The lever 57 has a short arm 59 carrying a pawl 60 arranged to engage the ratchet wheel 61 pivoted on the frame 55 Fast on the ratchet wheel is an arm 62, having a connecting rod 63 pivoted between extremity and a post 64, similar to the post 46 shown in Fig. 2. Since one end of the arm 63 is pivoted on a fixed support on the base, the swinging of the gear 61 by the pawl 60 from the lever 57, and consequent swinging of the arm 62, will cause the swinging of the frame until the arm 62 is in alinement with the connecting rod 63, acting in the nature of a toggle joint. For the next half revolution of the ratchet wheel 61, the arm 62 and bar 63 will serve to draw the ratchet wheel and hence the frame toward the post 64, until the connecting rod and arm are in alinement and superposed. Obviously the next half revolution will swing the frame away from the post. The pawl 60 is moved toward the ratchet wheel 61 by a spring 65. A stop pawl 66 pivoted on the frame 55 is normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 61 by a spring 67. A lever 68 pivoted on the frame has one end arranged to engage the stop pawl 66, while its other end will be engaged by a lever 69 pivoted on the lever 57 at 70. lVhen the lever 57 is moving in one direction it will cause the lever 69 to strike the lever 68, causingthe latter to shift the stop pawl 66 out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 61 thereby permitting the free operation of the ratchet wheel by the pawl 60. Upon the return movement of the lever 57 the lever 69 will rock on its pivot and pass over the lever 68 without shifting it.

In Figs. 14, 15 and 16 is set forth a tension device for the carrier on the throwing arm for permitting a slight swinging movement for the carrier on the arm, and which device will IIC ' ber 90 and a portion of the movable stop.

have its tension decreased as the arm is thrown. In this construction a carrier arm is rotatable on a post 76, its aperture having a bearing on a collar member 77 secured to the top of the post by a bolt 78. The member 77 has a lug portion or extension 79 in which a post 80, being secured thereto by means of a bolt 81 to be rotatable thereon. A rod 82 is pivoted to one end of the carrier C, that is pivoted on the rod at 83. The other end of this rod is passed through an aperture in the post 80, and has a head 84 on its extremity. Between the post and this head is arranged a coil spring 85 placed under compression. When the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 15 and 16, since the post is on the opposite side of the axis of the arm and in alinement with the pivotal connection of the rod and carrier, the spring is under its greatest compression. But as the arm 75 is swung around to the position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 14, the carrier connection of the rod 82 will approach the post 80, causing the rod to move through the post and its free end 841 will move .away from the post, thereby lessening the compression of the spring. -And when the carrier moves around to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, the distance between the post 80 and the head 84 of the rod will-be a maximum, whereby the tension of the spring will be still further decreased. By this construction the carrier will be held comparatively rigid on the carrier arm during the initial part of the swinging movement but as it reaches the termination of its swing, it will have more play, and consequently will be given a large amount of twist or flip at the ejectment of the target from the carrier.

The construction of carrier illustrated comprises a jaw member that is pivoted on the carrying arm at 91. To the jaw member is pivoted a second jaw member 92 at 93. The jaw member 90 is provided with any suitable form of fixed stop device, being shown as having a bar 94 fast thereon. On the jaw member 92 is arranged a movable stop member 95, shown as pivoted thereon at 96. The jaw members are drawn together by means of a suitable resilient connection, in the form shown a spring 97 being connected between the end of the jaw memmember 95. The spring 97 may be adjusted by means of a bolt 98 and a nut 99. The pivoted stop member comprises a flat portion 89 by which it is pivoted at 96 to the jaw 92, and an upright portion 88 in which is secured a friction block 87 formed of suitable friction material, such as rubber. This block is shown as having a straight or plane engaging face 86. j

The carrier is normally retained in the position shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 8, the inward movement of the jaws being limited by means of a stop pin 9 on the jaw 90 engaging the end portion of the aw 92. The target T is moved into the carrier as indicated in Fig. 5, and will engage the stop 94 by one side, while its opposite edge will strike the rubber block 87; as indicated in Fig. 6. As the arm is swung, and the target thrown by centrifugal action, it will have a considerably greater frictional engagement with the movable stop member on the jaw 92, than with the stop member on the other jaw. It will be observed from Fig. 7 that the target will engage the movable jaw member in this position at the outer portion of the rubber block, which will tend to swing the block on its pivot and increase the tension on the spring 97 this will still further increase the friction on the target, with the result that it will tend to turn on this engaging point as it leaves the carrier, and will be given a rotation on its own axis upon leaving the target, as indicated in Fig. 8. This will produce the desired spinning of the target during its flight through the air. This construction has the further advantage that the target will not leave the carrier until the exertion of a considerable centrifugal force that will cause a further discharge of the target.

Hav ng thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a target-throwing-trap, the combination of a supporting frame, a target throwing means, a tension device, and an operating lever having a back-and-forth motion, said members being organized whereby the movement of the lever in one direction will actuate the target throwing means to reset the trap, and the subsequent movement of the lever in the opposite direction will serve to put the throwing means under tension.

2. In a target-throwing-trap, the combination of a frame member, a throwing lever mounted on the frame, target carrying means on the lever, an operating lever movable on the frame, a trip device, and a resilient conneotion between the throwing lever and the operating lever organized to cause the operating lever to swing the throwing lever to the set position to engage the trip device, and upon subsequent swinging of the operating lever in the opposite direction, the resilient connection will be placed under tension.

3. In a target-throwing-trap, the combination of a base, a frame rotatably mounted on the base, target throwing mechanism on the frame, including a lever and organized to be reset by swinging the lever in one direction and placed under tension for ejectment upon. swinging the lever in the opposite direction, a pawl carried by said lever, a rotatable member engaged by said pawl to be intermittently advanced in one direction, and said member being connected with the rotatable frame whereby the continuous rotation of said member in one direction will cause the frame to be oscillated by an intermittently advancing movement.

4. In a target-throwing trap, the combination of a base, a frame rotatably mounted on the base, target throwing mechanism on the frame including an oscillating lever, a pawl carried by said lever, a ratchet wheel pivoted on the frame and engaged by such pawl, a mutilated gear attached to the ratchet wheel, and a yoke member pivotally connected with the base and provided with rack portions on opposite inner sides ar ranged to be alternately engaged by the teeth of said gear, whereby the frame is oscillated on the base by the oscillations of said lever, with an intermittently advancing movement.

5. A trap target carrier, comprising a jaw member, a second jaw member pivoted to said jaw member, a stop portion on one of the jaw members, a stop pivotally mounted on the other jaw member, and a spring connected with said stop and arranged to yieldably retain the stop in position to co-operate with the other stop to hold the target in the carrier during the swing of the throwing arm, the pivoted stop being arranged to engage the target by one end portion of its engaging face and swung under tension of the spring upon the target being thrown from the carrier, to cause a spinning movement of the target when ejected.

6. A trap target carrier, comprising a jaw member, a second jaw member pivoted to said jaw member, a stop portion on one of the jaw members, a stop pivotally mounted on the other jaw member, and a spring connecting said stop with the other jaw mem ber and arranged to yieldably retain the stop in position to cooperate with the other stop to hold the target in the carrier during the swing of the throwing arm, the pivoted stop being arranged to engage the carrier by one end portion of its engaging face and swung under tension of the spring upon the target being thrown from the carrier, to cause a spinning movement of the target when ejected.

7. A trap target carrier comprising a jaw member, a second jaw member movably con nected with said jaw member, a stop portion on one of the jaw members, a stop member pivotally mounted on the outer end of the other jaw member, and resilient means tending to prevent movement of the pivoted stop member.

8. A trap target carrier comprising a aw member, a second jaw movably connected with said jaw member, a target engaging stop on one jaw member, a target engaging stop movably mounted on the outer end of the other aw member, and resilient connection between the movable stop and the other jaw member, tending to draw the jaws together.

9. A trap target carrier comprising a jaw member, a second jaw member movably connected with said aw member, a stop portion on one of the aw members, a stop member movably mounted on the outer end of the other jaw member, resilient means tending to prevent movement ofthe movable stop member, and a stop limiting the approaching movement of the jaw members.

10. A trap target carrier comprising a jaw member, a second jaw pivoted to said jaw member, a target engaging stop on one jaw member, a target engaging stoppivoted on the outer end of the other jaw member provided with a plane engaging surface, and a resilient connection between the pivoted stop and the other jaw member tending to draw the jaws together.

11. A trap target carrier comprising a jaw member, a second aw member movably connected with said aw member, a stop portion on one of the jaw members, a stop pivotally mounted on the other jaw member, and a spring tending to prevent movement of the movable stop member, the engaging face of the stop being inclined to the path of movement of the target through the carrier whereby the stop will be swung by the target putting the spring under tension to cause spinning of the target.

12. A trap target carrier comprising a jaw member, a second jaw member movably connected with the other aw member, a stop portion on one of the jaw members, a stop member movably mounted on the other jaw member and having a greater frictional engagement with the target than the other stop member, and a resilient connection between the movable stop member and the other jaw member.

13. In a target-throwing trap, the combination with the carrier arm and the support 011 which the arm is pivoted, of a carrier member movable on the free end portion of the arm, and a resilient connection between the carrier arm support and the carrier member tending to retard swinging of the carrier member on the arm, said resilient connection being organized to decrease its tension as the carrier arm is swung from the set position to the discharging position.

14. In a target-throwing trap, the combination of a support, a carrier arm provided on the support, a lug on the support, a carrier member pivoted on the free end portion of the arm, and a resilient member connected to the carrier member eccentric of its pivot, and also connected with the said lug eccentric to the pivot of the carrier arm, whereby the tension of said connection decreases as the arm is thrown to eject the target.

15. In a target-throwing trap, the combination of a support, a carrier arm pivoted on the support, a lug on the support, a carrier member pivoted on the carrier arm, a post pivotally mounted 011 the lug in a position beyond the axis of the carrier arm and provided With a transverse aperture, a rod passing through the post aperture and having one end pivotally attached to the carrier member, and a coil spring on the rod between its free end and the post and being under compression, said lug being located on the support whereby the tension on said spring will be reduced as the trap arm is thrown to eject the target.

ERNEST W. REYNOLDS. 1 ARTHUR J. REYNOLDS. Witnesses to Ernest W. Reynolds:

WILLIAM H. REID, FRED. J. DOLE. Witnesses to Arthur J. Reynolds:

W. J. WORAM, E. G. HOFFMAN. 

